CDU appoints new head of VET

A member of the senior executive of the NT’s Department of Education and Training (DET) will join Charles Darwin University next month to head one of its key portfolios.

The Deputy Chief Executive, Tertiary, Corporate and Portfolio Services with DET, John Hassed, will take up the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education and Training at CDU in mid-January.

He will take over the role from Dr Barry McKnight, who will retire early in the New Year.

CDU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barney Glover announced Mr Hassed’s 12-month secondment to the university, saying that few people were as experienced in the training sector in the Northern Territory as Mr Hassed.

“John is responsible for the Training and Higher Education Division at DET and has held senior executive positions in Queensland, including General Manager of Training Services and Workforce Services,” Professor Glover said.

“We look forward to welcoming him to the senior executive of the university and working with him to continue to develop the VET sector at CDU.”

Mr Hassed has represented Queensland and the Northern Territory on the National Senior Officials Committee for VET for almost a decade. He is also Chair of the National Training Statistics Committee and a Director on the Board of the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research.

Some 13,000 students from across the Territory are currently enrolled in VET courses at CDU.